I’m Wesley Sneijder, Remember Me?

When FIFA’s Ballon d’Or gets awarded for the first time next January, someone in Barcelona’s locker room will be added to the contentious list of the world’s best player. Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, and Lionel Messi have been shortlisted by FIFA as the three potential winners, and while neither of the three is a surprise inclusion, there is a shocking exclusion, that of Wesley Sneijder.

Only a few months ago, the Dutchman was being touted as a runaway winner, having guided Inter Milan to an historic treble, as well as his country to the world cup final, where a Spanish team conducted by Barcelona’s brilliant duo defeated him. Sneijder’s fall from grace has been precipitous, but perhaps not all that surprising given his club team’s recent poor run of form. In a sport where the question “what have you done for me lately?” takes on an increased significance, the award unfortunately applies to the calendar year rather than the actual season. Thus, everything that Sneijder did during the first half of Inter’s historic season doesn’t count, while everything he hasn’t been doing since September, does. But what about his tremendous world cup and Champions league campaigns? Well, those were moths ago, and with Barcelona’s current butchering of all opponents on the backs of the aforementioned triumvirate, easily forgotten.

This dissonance between the award and the actual season has been a recurring problem for FIFA, but like with so many other things, soccer’s unblemished governing body will reluctantly change. That is, unless some of soccer’s more prestigious writers start voicing their disapproval, like bestselling author, and tweeter extraordinaire, Grant Wahl, who has publicly alluded to the problem on Twitter.

Goal of the Year?

My Recent Hiatus

Dear Readers,

NYC's Multilingual Soccer Source

As you've probably noticed, i haven't posted any articles during the past two months. I apologize for this recent neglect. Lately, i've been devoting an inordinate amount of time to setting up New York City's first soccer specific multilingual newspaper, World Striker. Barring any unexpected delays, the weekly edition should be available at city newsstands this December. You will be able to follow the World Striker on Twitter at WorldStrikerNYC for any updates.

I will be posting new articles this weekend on Bigsoccerhead that will include:

• A discussion with ESPN's Tommy Smyth about US soccer.
• A call for tougher consequences for dirty tacklers.

I'm very grateful for your readership and continued support.

Best 

Eric Krakauer

@ Bigsoccerhead1

Silly Blatter Says: 'Golden Goal' to Save Football

a pensive Blatter (photo: guardian uk)

Sepp Blatter has given football fans all over the world another reason to rub their foreheads in befuddlement, once again. In an attempt to eradicate negative tactics from football, the seemingly increasingly incompetent head of FIFA has announced that football’s governing body is considering bringing back the ‘golden goal.’

The decision to reconsider the games’ playing format comes after the 2010 world cup failed to produce a lot of goals. In fact, the group stage tallied the least amount of goals ever in a world cup. Blatter blames the defensive strategies used by the coaches, who overwhelmingly lined up their teams with only one striker (all four semifinalists resorted to a strategy that employed two holding midfielders).

Bierhoff celebrates winning goal

Although one can’t criticize Blatter’s push for more positive football (positive being a euphemism for more goals), resorting to an already failed experiment as a potential remedy is senseless and reeks of desperation. Introduced by FIFA in 1993 to correct the same issue, the ‘golden goal’ quickly proved to have the opposite effect. In the 1996 and 2000 European cups, as well as the 1998 world cup, teams that went into what was then referred to as ‘sudden death’ resorted to more defensive tactics in order to avoid surrendering a fatal goal. The cagey 96 final between Germany and Czech republic was the first major tournament decided by the rule, after Petr Kouba mishandled Oliver Bierhoff’s weak shot. The European cup in 2000 also included a dismal final that was decided by a David Trezeguet ‘golden’ goal, but only after the French beat Portugal in the semis with a controversial penalty shot converted by Zinedine Zidane. Which brought about another problem: what was to be done about refereeing decisions that would prove so decisive? The rule was abolished in 2004 after FIFA received a tremendous amount of criticism.

Finding a solution for ‘negative football’ could prove very difficult. In part because negative tactics are probably not the sole reason for the decline in goals. Football today is a lot different from football twenty years ago. Teams that used to be pushovers then, can now cause problems for traditional powerhouses. Even teams that were regularly thrashed in double figures have found ways to reduce the number of goals they concede. For example, Andorra and Lichtenstein, two teams that were routinely thumped by their opponents are now proving to be far tougher. In their last European cup qualification matches, Andorra only lost to Ireland 3-1, and Lichtenstein suffered the narrowest of defeats against Scotland, in Scotland. Ireland and Scotland are certainly not football powerhouses, but the gulf between them and their respective opponents is enormous.  One can argue the reasons behind the closing of the gap between good and bad teams, but one can’t argue that there is more parity in the game today than ever before.

One thing is for sure: Sepp Blatter is once again focusing on the game’s trifles instead of the things that do need correction. Like video replay. Or have we forgotten about that already?    

Worst Goalkeeping Mistake Ever?

 Moroccan club  FAR Rabat's goalkeeper, Khalid Askri, celebrates a little early

The Federation, The Coach, Drugs, and Nani

The Portuguese Anti-Doping Agency (ADoP) has suspended Portuguese national coach, Carlos Queiroz, from coaching for six months. After an almost two month long legal battle, the agency found Queiroz guilty of obstructing the drug testing of Portuguese players prior to the world cup. The punishment also comes after the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) levied its own punishment against the coach by suspending him for the first two European Championship qualifying games against Cyprus and Norway. The Portuguese manager allegedly became irate and violent after anti-doping agents interrupted a scheduled practice to administer the tests.

What makes this case peculiar is the fact that the incident did not come to light until Portugal got knocked out of the world cup by eventual champions, Spain. The investigation was also announced while Queiroz was vacationing in Mozambique, and before he was given any warning of the potential charges.

According to sources close to the Portuguese manager, the charges materialized after Portugal fell short of achieving its world cup objectives, and the FPF was looking for a reason to “justify” his dismissal, thus avoiding a breach of contract fee approaching three million Euros. The FPF has countered the accusation, claiming that the team reached its objective of progressing past the group stages.

Of course, Queiroz, has not remained passive, and has lined up some of European football’s biggest heavy-weights to argue in his defence, such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Luis Figo. Queiroz was Ferguson’s right-hand man at Manchester United for six years, and was responsible for Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing and development. It is, in fact, player development that has won Queiroz the most accolades. He was invaluable to Figo’s career, and coached Portugals under 21 squads to two world cup wins in 89 and 91. Figo, who played for Queiroz at club and national levels, has remained quiet about his deposition. Ferguson, on the other hand, has vocalized his criticism of the FPF, and has defended Queiroz vehemently to the media.

Nani with DJ Charlie Salema in Southern Portugal (photo: bigsoccerhead)

Ferguson’s defence of Queiroz is no surprise since the two have remained close since the latter took over Portugal’s national team. However, there is another piece to this case that has been ignored by the media, and that is the mysterious injury that kept Nani out of the world cup. According to FPF doctors, Nani broke his clavicle while performing a bicycle kick during one of Portugal’s last practices before leaving for South Africa. Nevertheless, Nani was taken to South Africa only to be sent back the next day. Upon his arrival in Lisbon, Nani was seen carrying two suitcases in the airport without any visible sign of discomfort. There were also reports that the United winger forwent medical attention and spent his “able-bodied” vacation in the South of Portugal. One eye-witness I spoke to claims he saw Nani shortly after his return from South Africa moving around very comfortably, saying “I’ve broken my clavicle, and it was a while before I took my arm brace off, and it sure was a long time before I could lift things.”

Queiroz’ run-in with ADoP could soon unearth some of the talk surrounding Nani at the time of his injury. The cloud of secrecy that surrounded the winger and his injury fed into the rumours that he had not really injured himself, and that the FPF was hiding something from the media. Could it be a coincidence that Nani’s injury and Queiroz’ confrontation with ADoP happened only a few days apart? There could be an answer soon as Queiroz is appealing his case to FIFA as well as the Court of Sports Arbitration.

Contenders or Pretenders: Barclay's Premier League

The Premier League is finally in full swing, and with the world cup out of the way, much of the soccer-loving world will be directing its attention to what promises to be one of the closest championships in recent memory. League Champion, Chelsea, starts off as the early favorite, and if recent years are of any indication, Manchester United will be the West London club’s closest competitor.

However, this year’s championship could prove more difficult for England’s top two teams as Manchester’s less accomplished club, City, has spent millions in order to force its way to the top of the league, while Liverpool is banking that its recent managerial shake-up will turn up results. Arsene Wenger’s decision to splash the cash on a proven striker, and the club’s ability keep its talisman captain will also give Gunner fans the hope that the recent trophy drought will soon be over. Arsenal’s nemesis, Tottenham, may also be in the mix since it’s kept most of the players that propelled the club to the Champions League last year.

So are all five teams contenders, or are some of them merely pretenders?

Chelsea

My favourite to lift the Barclay’s Premiership trophy for a second year running, Chelsea’s biggest strength is the fact that it will be able to field most of last season’s starters. Although Ricardo Carvalho and Joe Cole have both left, only the former will be missed. In fact, the Portuguese defender’s departure to Real Madrid - where he will be reunited with Jose Mourinho - may highlight some of Terry’s defensive frailties. Under Ancelotti’s rule, Joe Cole was never able to make much of an impact, and had he stayed, the England international would have seen less minutes at Stamford Bridge given the signings of Benayoun from Liverpool, and Ramires from Benfica. The Brazilian will likely prove a significant signing for Chelsea. Although he was only granted a work permit after an appeal from the club (Ramires did not play in at least 75% of Brazil’s games), he will be a key player for both club and country for the better part of the next decade. His presence in a starting eleven that already includes Lampard, Essien, and Malouda, will certainly make Chelsea’s midfield one of the most feared in Europe. Additionally, unlike most of Chelsea’s competitors, the club has an enviable bench, which will include the likes of Obi Mikel, and Kalou, who would start on most other teams. Oh yes, there’s also an Ivorian up-front scoring a few goals. In his first league game, Drogba netted three times to help Chelsea demolish West Brom 6-0.

Verdict: Contender

Manchester United

Alex Ferguson has never been the biggest off-season spender, so the United monarch’s lack of spending shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, considering the club’s aging guard, a little shopping spree would have been prudent. Last season, much of Man U’s success depended on Wayne Rooney’s prolific goal scoring form, thus, his lacklustre word cup as well as his slow start to the season, should be reason for concern. Additionally, the club has recently been hindered by injuries, causing Rio Ferdinand, Vidic, and Hargreaves to spend a considerable amount of time with the medical staff. There has actually been some talk that the midfielder’s knee injury is so severe that his career could be in jeopardy. One of the bright spots so far this season has been Berbatov’s form. Widely criticised for his lazy performances and lack of goals, some media reports suggested that the Bulgarian was on his way out; however his performances against Chelsea in the Charity Shield and Necastle in the league seem to indicate that the gangly forward is finding his best football once again. Paul Scholes is another player who looks to be finding his prime. Scholes is playing so well, that there are questions as to whether there is anyone on the squad who can duplicate his performances if he gets injured. Fletcher has developed immensely under Ferguson, but the Scott doesn’t have Scholes’ offensive prowess. On the other hand, Ryan Giggs, who has been finding more playing time in the centre of midfield, lacks the endurance to sustain the pace an entire Premiership game requires. On the wings, Nani and Valencia are going to have to be more consistent if the Red Devils are to challenge Chelsea. Ultimately, Manchester United’s fortunes will ride on the team’s ability to stay fit as its bench lacks the quality of a contender.

Verdict: Contender

Manchester City

If the economy is bad, City isn’t aware of it. The often belittled second Manchester team has discovered that in football, money speaks louder than…well, football. Seemingly linked with every available player during the summer, City commanded the market and splashed the big bucks on big name signings such as Yaya Toure, David Silva and the ever-sulking Mario Balotelli. What City is finding out is that spending money is easy, but getting big name players to play together as a team is harder than just printing their names on the back of jerseys. The team’s first league game against Tottenham proved just that, as City were never able to look like a cohesive unit. The biggest problem the team faces is keeping all of its stars happy. This was exactly Stephen Ireland’s sentiment as he warned newest signee Milner that he will find it hard to see regular football. In order to gain a starting role in the middle of the field Milner will have to compete with Patrick Vieira, Yaya Toure, Nigel deJong, and Gareth Barry. For every starter, City will have a man on the bench who will feel that he deserves the starting role, and that can create some friction in the locker room. Of course, Mancini will tell you that his problem is one that any manager would love to have, and since his team will be competing in four fronts, there will be enough playing time for everyone. I’d hate to be the one telling Tevez that he’s going to sit out to rest. If City finds an adequate rotation system this season, then the club will be able to compete for a top spot in the league, but considering its mercenary nature, the squad will probably be in a constant search for a playing philosophy, and it’s unlikely that the players will be facing much of the heat when the results aren’t there. That heat will be firmly under Mancini’s seat, which could be vacated a lot sooner than people think.

Verdict: Pretender

Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas!? Check. After all the stories about a Barcelona homecoming, the totemic Spaniard decided to remain with the Gunners. That’s great news for the London club, but unfortunately, persuading the club captain to stay came at the expense of a decent look into the transfer market. Marouane Chamakh has come in to fill the void left by Adebayor when the latter made the big money move to Manchester City. The former Bordeaux striker moves to London after a very impressive season in both the French and the Champions Leagues. Chamakh fits Wenger’s plans perfectly as he has the skill to compliment Arsenal’s passing style, and the size and strength to withstand the physicality of Premiership defenders. At the back the French manager signed unheralded countryman Laurent Koscielny. Previously unknown, the young defender has looked good in his partnership with Vermaelen, but questions remain whether his size and lack of experience will make up for the departures of William Gallas, Philippe Sanderos, and Mikael Silvestre. The Gunners still look depleted at the back and that could be their biggest weakness. The club’s midfield is definitely its strongest asset with mainstays Song, Nasri, Rosicky, and Diaby backing up Fabregas and Arshavin. Jack Wilshere will also be seeing a lot more time on the field, especially now that Fabio Capello is touting the young midfielder to be the future of the English national team. Nevertheless, not matter how strong the Arsenal midfield may be, it will be hard to make up for the team’s defensive frailties, as well as the lack of goal-scorers. Chamakh may be an excellent addition, but he won’t be able to carry the team’s offense all season, and with van Persie’s injury woes, and Bendtner’s inconsistency, Arsenal will likely be struggling to score against strong opponents, and Pepe Reina won’t be there every weekend putting the ball into his own net.

Verdict: Contender

Liverpool

Liverpool’s biggest signing this off-season may have been that of Roy Hodgson. After guiding Fulham to new heights, the Croydon native was brought in to make Liverpool a contender once again. His off-season moves suggest that Hodgson believes the club needs more of a philosophy change than a player facelift. Benitez’ rule was marred by disagreements with players, owners, and other managers, and that was at the root of the Liverpool’s problems. Hodgson’s rule started by convincing Gerrard to stay at the club, and even though midfield strongman Mascherano was rumoured to be heading to Inter, he appears to be staying as well. The addition of Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen shows that midfield will be the squad’s focal point, and Hodgson wants to build a stingy, and physical team before he tunes up his attack. Hodgson will also expect Gerrard to play more defensively than he has in the past, which means that much of the goal scoring will rest on Torres and Kuyt’s shoulders. However, Ngog has impressed so far, scoring a beauty against Arsenal, and it appears that Babbel will see more of the ball this season. The game against Arsenal also evidenced a strong defence anchored by Carragher and Skrtel, and that Hodgson is not afraid to play Agger on the left, at the expense of the more offensive minded Fabio Aurelio. Liverpool will not be running up scores this season, but the Reds will keep themselves in the big games with a tighter midfield and defence. There is definitely a good chance that the team will be staying in the title hunt a lot longer than the previous years.

Verdict: Contender

Tottenham

It is probably premature to include Tottenham in the list of contenders, but the London club has one of the best English managers in Harry Redknapp, and since his arrival, the club has gone from strength to strength. Like Chelsea, Tottenham will benefit from fielding most of last year’s team, with the surprising addition of William Gallas, who will bring a great deal of grit and experience to the back four. Gallas’ signing is especially important since club captain, Ledley King, has been the victim of a bad knee for most of his career. The club has a strong midfield that has depth at all positions, and has played together for a long time. Huddlestone – who should have featured for England in the world cup – and Palacios will make for a strong defensive presence that will enable Modric, Lennon, and Bale to get up the field. The Welshman is now one of the team’s strongest players, and he will very possibly be among the league’s best players this season. Tottenham’s wing play and creative midfield should provide the attack with plenty of scoring opportunities. Up-front, the Londoners are spoiled for choice with Defoe, Crouch, Keane, and Pavlyuchenko, but it’s the Russian who should see the most minutes. Tottenham may be the league’s dark horse, and there is a good chance that the club will challenge the top three for a shot at glory.

Verdict: Contender

Bigsoccerhead’s Premier League Prediction

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham
6. Manchester City

Champions League: Lennon Could Face the Axe After Celtic's 3-0 Defeat

Neil Lennon should start worrying about losing his dream job as Celtic manager after seeing his team all but crash out of the Champions league. The Glasgow club was embarrassed 3-0 by Portugal’s Sporting Braga, and if the game was any indication of the way the team will play this season, the Scottish FA might as well just hand the championship to Rangers.

Apart from the first ten minutes of the first half, Celtic never looked like it could threaten the northern Portuguese club. Samaras, who was singled out by Braga coach Domingos Paciencia as the Catholics' star-man, was never given enough room to run at defenders and was easily cancelled out by Moises. Meanwhile, club captain and resident hard-man, Scott Brown, proved too slow to compete with a Braga midfield that was led by Alan, the scorer of the first goal. The Scots looked visibly exhausted early into the second half, which should raise some questions about Lennon’s intense training regime.

On the other hand, Braga looked like at team that could do some damage against traditionally stronger opponents in the group stage of the competition. Surprisingly having finished second last season behind Benfica, the Arsenalistas, as they’re known in Portugal due to their Arsenal-like kits, look like they can compete with Portugal’s big three for this year’s league championship. It should definitely not be a shock to see the team reach the groups stages of the Champions League.

If Celtic is ousted from the Champions League, Lennon will most likely be the first major managerial casualty this year, and then all hell will break loose in Glasgow as the team administrators look under every rock for a more experienced manager.

Bigsoccerhead with the Footie Stars

Bigsoccerhead's Eric Krakauer & Wayne Rooney (photo: Eric Krakauer/Bigsoccerhead 2010)

Bigsoccerhead caught up with a vacationing Wayne Rooney at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay after a Rihanna concert that was attended by numerous celebrities.

Proving that he's just like everyone else, Rooney waited patiently for a taxi in a line of hundreds.

His take on goal-line technology: "no comment on that, mate."

CopaNYC: New York's World Cup

16 teams will be competing in Copanyc 2010

Soccer is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about New York’s Soho. Nevertheless, it is exactly in a Spring street office that Copanyc, one of the country’s most exciting soccer tournaments, finds its roots. The brainchild of Spencer Dormitzer and Chris Noble, Copanyc is a tournament that looks to bring together city-based players from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds by having them step on the field wearing the colors of their ancestral nations. Think of it as a mini world cup, taking place in the world’s most diverse city.

“It would make a lot of sense to make the world cup in New York city,” Noble says as he begins to explain Copanyc’s genesis. He recalls seeing numerous games being played all over the city and always feeling that something was missing. “I saw it was incomplete. A lot of people were playing, but they were very segregated.” Noble is alluding to the fact that in a country where soccer is easily overshadowed by basketball, football, and baseball, surprisingly, it is soccer that is the most played of all. In New York, people play the sport everywhere. Yet, unfortunately, while upper-middle class New Yorkers benefit from an abundance of organized tournaments, those who live in poorer urban areas, are limited to pick-up games that have very little structure. It is that street soccer culture and talent that the Copanyc wants to exploit. For Noble, “the focus should be in the inner city, should be on diversity, and the picking up of other people’s skills.”

Copanyc's Sean Corcoran, Spencer Dormitzer, Elicia Banks-Gabriel

In order to bring together the often undiscovered talent that is spread all over the city, Dormitzer and Noble reached out to community leaders who manage teams representing different countries, and are responsible for putting together the squads that compete in Copanyc. In some cases teams are run by the consulates of the countries they represent, and their involvement raises the tournament’s notability outside the United States. In fact, Copanyc has gained so much prominence that some consulates have arranged for former and current professionals to join the teams (it was recently announced that Inter Milan’s Julio Cesar would play for the Brazilian team, and former French world cup winner, Youri Djorkaeff, will likely suit up for the French). Dormitzer lights up at the idea of seeing amateurs playing along side some of the world’s biggest stars. “Imagine seeing your hero playing for your country in the world cup, and now you’re passing him the ball.” He also doesn’t believe there is a huge disparity in skill between both groups of players. Having played in New York’s Cosmopolitan league for many years, Dormitzer has competed with and against players that he firmly believes could have become professionals had they been given a chance.

Hosting the tournament just a few weeks after the end of the world cup is no coincidence, as well. Both Dormitzer and Noble realize how important it is to ride the wave of excitement that surrounds this year’s world cup. Never before has there been so much buzz concerning soccer in the United States. The US national team’s knockout game against Ghana alone saw ESPN earn more ratings than FOX did for all of last year’s world series games combined. “Soccer is exploding in this country right now, and we’re right in the middle of it,” Dormitzer raves as he points at a poster depicting Pele’s last game for the Cosmos at Giants stadium. Both he and Noble were at that game, and they equate the excitement currently gripping the city to that of that day. “That’s where I fell in love with soccer,” Dormitzer says. “I knew that it was bigger than all of us.”

While this is only the second Copanyc being held, Dormitzer and Noble claim that there has been an enormous growth in popularity, something they attribute to their partnership with Anomaly, a NYC and London based marketing company, and Umbro sportswear, which has recently been bought by NIKE. “Anomaly and Umbro have really helped us improve on last year’s copa, since they have so many resources,” Dormitzer says. Mayor Bloomberg’s involvement has also brought a lot of attention to the tournament, having recently hosted over eight hundred people at Gracie Mansion to acknowledge the tournament.

Copanyc’s success is sure to catch on in other cities, and Noble makes no secret of his intentions to expand across the United States. “If things continue to go well, LA could be next.” As for, Dormitzer: “I just can’t wait to see who wins this year.”

The preliminary rounds of Copanyc will be held July 24th at Pier 40 in Manhattan.
The finals will be played on July 31st and August 1st at Flushing Meadows.
(Admission is free)

Copanyc

Bigsoccerhead's World Cup First 12

Line-up based on 4-3-3 formation

Eduardo: Portugal's best player?


1. Eduardo (Portugal): Villa’s game-winning goal that sent the underperforming Portuguese home, was the first goal the Portuguese keeper surrendered in the world cup. Eduardo made key saves against the Ivory Coast and Brazil to ensure Portugal’s progression to the knockout rounds, and against Spain he postponed what everyone knew was the inevitable, an early Portuguese departure.

2. Philipp Lahm (Germany): Moved from the left side of defense to the right, and made captain due to Ballack’s injury, Lahm continued his club form, supplying attacking support on the wings with ominous crosses, and making crucial tackles at the back. Against the Spanish, Lahm was one of the only Germans who played well, helping lock down the defense before Puyol’s header gave the Iberians a much-deserved victory.

3. Carlos Puyol (Spain): His header against the Germans was symbolic of Puyol’s hard work and commitment to the team. His leaping header followed a fifteen-yard run that resulted in an unstoppable goal. Defensively, the Spaniard showed the grit and tenacity that has become a rarity in international football, and frustrated some of the world’s best forwards. Just ask Cristiano Ronaldo.

4. Arne Friedrich (Germany): Calm and consistent throughout the entire tournament, the right-back turned center-back proved an almost insurmountable wall in the German defense. Dwarfed by Mertesacker, the now Wolfsburg man marked some of the world cup’s best forwards, which included David Villa and Gonzalo Higuain.

5. Jorge Fucile (Uruguay): Initially replaced by FC Porto teammate Alvaro Pereira, Fucile soon won back his spot and proved an unshakable left-back. Steady in every game, the Uruguayan shone against the Germans, making life difficult for Thomas Muller, and providing some much needed assistance in the upper third of the field.

6. Xavi Hernandez (Spain): It’s a cliché to call him the human metronome, but that is exactly what he is. His partnership with Iniesta is arguably the best in the world and will unlock any defense. Always composed under pressure, and with a nose for the prefect pass, Xavi’s air of tranquility must send shivers down opponents’ spines. Every player on the field looks much better when the diminutive Barcelona man is on the field.

Schweinsteiger: Bigsoccerhead player of the tournament

7. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): My pick for the tournament’s Golden Ball, and an absolute motor in the German midfield. Schweinsteiger was the quintessential box-to-box midfielder, setting the tempo for the German offense and putting in some game-saving tackles at the back. It’s fair to say that almost every single German counterattack resulted from one of his tackles or was initiated by one of his passes. Against Spain, the Bayern Munich man was able to navigate through Spanish pressure, but was ultimately let down by most of his teammates who seemed intimidated by the opposition.

8. Wesley Sneijder (Holland): The quintessential number 10. A bit of a non-factor in the final, but mostly because an awesome Spanish midfield foursome overwhelmed him. Sneijder played behind three forwards and still managed to outscore all of them with five goals. With a solid defensive midfield behind him, the Inter man was free to pull the strings for the Oranje with his incisive passes. Without him, Holland would never have reached the final.

9. Andres Iniesta (Spain): The catalyst of the Spanish offense, and the difference maker in the final (not just because he scored). Iniesta was almost impossible to mark since Del Bosque gave him license to go where he pleased - van Bommel will have nightmares about his inability to stop Iniesta in the final, no matter how much he hacked him. His flick assist for Villa’s goal against Portugal epitomizes his creative spark on the field, and exemplifies how important it is to allow imaginative players to express themselves in football.

Forlan: FIFA's Golden Ball winner 

10. Diego Forlan (Uruguay): The fan favorite, player of the tournament, and influential leader of the Uruguayan national team, Forlan proved to the world that in his current form his name deserves to be mentioned with the best players of the game. Only a crossbar prevented him from scoring his sixth goal of the tournament, and kept Uruguay from drawing even with the Germans. One couldn’t help but root for the success of the Atletico Madrid man, who gave hope to underdogs all over the world.

11. David Villa (Spain): Deadly when attacking from the left and responsible for driving Spain to victory in the group games, the new Barcelona man dazzled fans with his craftiness, agility, and eye for goal. Villa’s performances suffered when Torres was benched in the semis, as he had to fend for himself as Spain’s lone striker. Nevertheless, he always proved to be a goal scoring threat and gave his midfielders plenty of room to operate by drawing extra-special attention from defenders.

12. Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay): Guiding Uruguay to the world cup twice is already enough of an accomplishment for any coach, so guiding the team to the semis will surely turn the former teacher into a folk hero. His tactics may have landed Uruguay in the world cup final, but the team’s lack of depth just couldn’t compete with the more talented sides of Holland and Germany.

What's your first 11?

Previews & Predictions: Holland vs. Spain (final)

By five o’clock pm eastern time on Sunday, this year’s world cup will have set some new records. It will have been the first world cup held in the African continent, it will be the first time a European nation will be crowned champion outside its home continent, and it will be the first time a nation will be etched into the world cup trophy that isn’t one of the previous seven champions.

Whilst Holland will be competing in its third world cup final, Spain will be making its first attempt at conquering the trophy, and that being the case, Sunday will pit the two best nations never to win the world cup against each other in what promises to be a mouth-watering encounter. Whereas in the past, world cup finals have showcased opponents that play very different styles of football, this final will exhibit two teams that play two very similar brands. Holland has long been credited with the honor of having created “total football,” an approach to the game that emphasizes its technical beauty, as well as the creativity of individual players. Today, though, it is Spain’s football that is being labeled as beautiful, with its stress on short, intricate passing, and maintaining possession.

Preview

Holland

Once the Dutch beat Brazil, there was little doubt they’d reach the final. Although Uruguay had performed well in its previous games, nobody really believed the South Americans would be able to overcome the Orange Machine. Still, Holland didn’t have an easy time dispatching Uruguayans, only tilting the scales after Wesley Sneijder scored a controversial goal in the second half. In fact, the Dutch are far from playing the football that has won them countless fans outside their own country. Apart from the defensive frailties that have be highlighted time-and-again, the team’s offense looks disconnected, save those few moments when Sneijder finds the time and space to display his flair.

Robben will hope to exploit Capdevila's lack of speed


The Dutch know that they will be entering Sunday’s final as underdogs, and in order to win they’re going to have to assert themselves early on in the game. Up to now, all the teams that have faced the Spanish have allowed them to possess the ball for most of the game, have attempted to close space, and have hoped to capitalize on mistakes. And apart from a very fortunate Switzerland, all have been unsuccessful, including a confident German team that easily dominated its previous opponents. The Oranje need to attack in numbers and avoid the Spanish defensive pressure, which is as efficient as the team’s offense. Holland’s best chance at success will be to use the width of the field. Sergio Ramos enjoys the freedom Del Bosque gives him to go up the field, and he sometimes tends to neglect some of his defensive duties. Capdevila, who platoons the left side of defense is more conservative than Ramos, but doesn’t have the speed to keep up with Robben, who usually tortures slower defenders. On the defensive side, the Dutch will have to hope that Nigel de Jong is rested enough to neutralize Iniesta after missing the semis through a suspension.

Spain

Joachim Low followed his team’s defeat to Spain by claiming that no team can beat the current European champions. The Germans were outplayed from the beginning, and rarely showed the counter attacking proficiency that allowed them to reach the semifinals. For many, Spain’s masterful vanquishing of the Germans all but crowned them world champions. The Iberians have only gotten better as the tournament has progressed, and not even a far-below par Fernando Torres has hindered the team. Del Bosque has also shown that he is not afraid to change his tactics to address problems. Whether playing with one striker, or two, Spain is a formidable team that can score in many ways, including set pieces.

Spain can also score from set pieces

The Spanish should line up against the Dutch exactly the same way as they did against the Germans: employing Villa up-front by himself, and allowing Iniesta to roam all over the offensive third of the field. Del Bosque will also be aware that Holland will look to exploit the wings, and as such, expect Sergio Busquets and Xavi Alonso to provide Ramos and Capdevila with a lot of help. Like always, Xavi will be the team’s metronome, setting the pace of the game, and stretching the field with Pedro’s speed. If Spain fails to score in the first half, Torres will certainly make an appearance with the hope of providing some size in the box, which should provide Villa more room to do his damage.

Prediction: Holland 0 – Spain 2

The Spanish have put on commanding performances in every game of the world cup so far, and after the slip in their first game, no team has looked good enough to beat them. In contrast, Holland has reached the final not playing the best football, and has benefited a little from luck. Truth be told, the Brazilians should have beaten the Dutch, but their inability to control their tempers, led to their demise. When all is said and done, Holland will leave South Africa still empty handed, and will continue to be referred to as the best nation never to have won the world cup. On the other hand, the Spanish will follow up their European cup with a world cup, just as West Germany did in 72 and 74.

The Return of the Number 10

Traditionally, the number 10 jersey has been assigned to a team’s most skilled and creative player, who is usually responsible for setting up offense, is given license to roam, and remains relatively free from defensive duties. However, the growing emphasis on tactics at the expense of individual expressiveness over the past fifteen years has rendered this original position almost obsolete. Teams both at club and national level have preferred formations that rely on box-to-box midfielders who are as adept at defending as they are at attacking.

Yet, this world cup has marked the return of the number 10. In fact, most of the teams that made it past the group stage, relied on the inventiveness of a 10, including all four semifinalists. It could be argued that Diego Forlan carried Uruguay on his shoulders, and Germany, often criticized for its boringly effective style of play, added some pazzaz with Oezil. Additionally, the finalists, Holland and Spain, have played the most attractive football of the tournament, and are dependent on 10’s. Holland’s success is widely attributed to Wesley Sneijder, who is probably the favorite to win the tournament's Golden Ball, while Spain’s play improved visibly after Iniesta recovered from a nagging groin injury.

Historically, men adorning the number 10 jersey have regularly left their mark on the world stage. Pelé was perhaps the first player to make the number famous, and was followed by other Brazilian greats such as Zico, and Ronaldinho. Maradona’s impact wearing the number 10 was so great that any other Argentine wearing the famous shirt is immediately compared to the man who led Argentina to world cup victory in 1986. Almost two decades later, Messi may have finally fit the bill. In 1994 Roberto Baggio graced America with his elegant football, taking Italy to the brink of a championship against Brazil, who was led by Rai, younger brother to football legend Socrates, and possibly the worst player to wear the number 10 for the seleção. Four years later Zinedine Zidane won the world cup with France and redefined what a number 10 should play like. He also established what not to do in a world cup final when he head-butted Marco Materazzi for insulting his sister.

Forlan carried Uruguay to the semis 

Just as they’ve been and continue to be influential on the field, number 10’s have always been inspirational for those of us off the field. Look at the stands of any stadium in the world, and most of the replica jerseys being worn by fans will bear the number 10, as will the t-shirts of street soccer players all over the world. Hopefully, the reemergence of the number 10 at the world cup will translate to the club level, and we wont have to wait four years to see it again.

Previews & Predictions: Brazil vs. Holland

Brazil vs. Holland should really be a final, but both teams will be measuring up in what could be the most entertaining game of the world cup. Brazil are always the favorites to win it all, and the fact that the seleção may not get past the Dutch will get everyone’s attention. The Ornaje feel that this could be their year. Always a contender on paper, the Dutch have never won football’s biggest prize, and could well be labeled as football’s greatest underachievers.


As everyone had assumed, Brazil finished first in the group of death. After just grinding out a result against North Korea, the Brazilians easily beat the Ivory Coast before drawing an inconsequential game against Portugal. Unlike Brazilian teams of the past, Dunga’s squad has not awed the world with its free-flowing attacks, and samba-like movement. Instead, the team has depended on a strong defense anchored by Lucio, and a defensive midfield partnership that aims to frustrate the opposition as much as possible. Yet, while this year’s Brazil will be remembered more for what it does defensively, Kaka, Robinho, and Luis Fabiano still provide enough firepower to outscore any team. Kaka is, in fact, a necessity to the Brazilians. The game against Portugal showed that while Brazil can attack without him, the team definitely doen’t have the same panache when he’s not on the field.

Sneijder will need to pull the strings for Holland 

Similarly to Brazil, Holland has performed as predicted. The Dutch cruised through their group, and had little trouble dispatching Slovakia. Wesley Sneijder has been fundamental to the team’s perforamces, and Robben’s recent recovery from injury has only added to the team’s offensive capabilities. However, the Dutch defense hasn’t looked incredibly strong even though Holland’s opponents haven’t been too threatening, and that should be troubling considering Brazil is next. Success for Holland rests solely on its ability to score, and there are plenty of players that can do so. Perhaps the biggest issue facing the Oranje is the constant bickering between players, which seems to be a constant thorn on Dutch squads, past and present.

Prediction: Brazil 3 – Holland 2

This game promises to be a shootout. No matter how good the Brazilian defense is, the Dutch will find ways to score, and in order to beat the Orange Machine, Brazil will have to score as well. That may not be so hard given the fact that Holland’s defense appears to be the weakest link. Brazil will probably pick on Holland’s lack of defensive speed, and Mathijsen will be spending a lot of time looking at Luis Fabiano’s back. Filipe Melo and Gilberto Silva should do enough to get Sneijder off his game, and without him the Dutch are less effective. Holland will look to take advantage of Michel Bastos’ defensive inexperience by starting Robben on his side. However, in order to beat Brazil’s defense, Holland will have to attack effectively from both wings, and Maicon is not going to let that happen.

Previews & Predictions: Ghana vs. Uruguay

Hardly anyone expected Uruguay and Ghana to make it this far, but one of them will be among the final four teams of the tournament. Uruguay is hoping to achieve world cup glories of the past, while Ghana is trying to become the first African nation to reach the semifinals.


One wonders whether the Uruguayans really believe that they can win their third world cup trophy, but the reality is that if they manage to beat Ghana, anything is possible for the former football powerhouse. Led by Diego Forlan, Uruguay has performed far beyond expectations. The South Americans have a virtually impenetrable defense captained by Diego Lugano. The 6’2” Fenerbahce man has been one of the world cup’s best defenders, and his partnership with Godin, has been one of the stingiest, allowing only one goal during the entire tournament. The team’s midfield has not been the most creative, but it is comprised of hard-nosed midfielders who fight for every loose ball, and make life very difficult for an opposition that is trying to impose it’s rhythm. The team’s superstars, Forlan and Suarez, play up front, and rely mostly on long balls. Nevertheless, both forwards have exploited the few chances they’ve been given to score. Both are also very adept at shooting from range.



Definitely not one of the favorite African teams to be in this position, especially when it lost its captain, Michael Essien, to injury, Ghana has only improved as it’s progressed through the world cup. Having started as a defensively minded team that hoped to score as a result of opponents’ mistakes, the team has begun to attack more consistently, relying mostly on its speed and athleticism. Even though the team’s defense has been prone to a few silly mistakes, mostly attributed to the inexperience of young defenders, it’s been rather solid under the leadership of Sunderland’s John Mensah. In midfield, Kevin Prince Boateng, and Anthony Annan, have justified Milovan Rajevac’s decision to keep Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah on the bench, controlling much of the ball and closing space in front of the defense. The team’s attack has mostly relied on the wing play of Andre Ayew, and the goal-scoring prowess of Asamoah Gyan, although the latter has only scored one goal in open play, against the United States. The biggest problem facing Ghana is the rash of injuries that is plaguing the team, and looks to leave the team short of some of its better players.

Prediction: Ghana 1 - Uruguay 0

For the most part, this game should prove a tight affair with both teams reluctant to attack too much lest they make a costly mistake at the back. Uruguay’s midfield should make sure that the Ghanaians never find the rhythm they found against the US, while Ghana’s defense will close the tiny holes Suarez and Forlan like to navigate in. Forlan will probably resort to picking up the ball at midfield, leaving Suarez outnumbered by very strong African defenders. Gyan will also find it very difficult up-front. He relies primarily on his speed and there will be very little room for him to get going. Expect the game to head into extra-time unless a goal materializes out of a set-piece. With Godin out with an injury, Ghana should move one with a scrappy goal in the box.

Previews & Predictions: Argentina vs. Germany

As if the prospect of watching Argentina play Germany tomorrow for a spot in the semifinals wasn’t exhilarating enough, Bastian Schweinsteiger added a little more drama to the clash by claiming that the Argentines were disrespectful and tried to influence referees. Not one to avoid a war of words, Carlos Tevez hit back by insinuating that the Mexicans were better than the Germans. Could anyone ask for anything else before these two titans meet?


Germany should head into the game tomorrow with a lot of confidence. Except for their minor slip against Serbia, the Germans have dominated their opponents, scoring nine goals and only conceding two – three if you count Lampard’s disallowed strike. The German defense looks solid even though Arne Friedrich has had to adapt to life as a center-back, and their midfield looks lively, with Oezil providing some imaginative football in front of the more defensive minded duo of Schweinsteiger and Khedira. Up front, the Klose - Podolski tandem has done what it was incapable of doing two years ago at Bayern Munich: score goals. The two forwards have accounted for four of the team’s nine goals, and with the addition of rising star, Thomas Muller, it doesn’t look like Die Mannshaft will be lacking firepower against the South Americans.


The Argentines should also be optimistic of reaching the semifinals. Like Germany, Argentina also benefitted from less than stellar refereeing, when Tevez’ header was allowed to stand, even though the Manchester City forward was clearly in an offside position. Under Maradona’s guidance, the Albiceleste has produced some of the tournament’s most pleasing football. Although Messi hasn’t scored, he has been instrumental to the team’s offense, and one only suspects that his goals will come against the Germans. Tevez and Higuain have been doing their fair share of scoring, and the Argentine midfield has made sure that there are enough scoring chances to go around. Expect the same against the Germans. Perhaps, a little more was expected from Benfica’s Di Maria, but the he, like Messi, is probably about to explode. The only question mark concerns the team’s defense. Demichelis has looked shaky at times, and Burdisso certainly doesn’t offer the same insurance as his former club teammate, Samuel.

Prediction: Germany 3 – Argentina 1

This game shouldn’t disappoint, and should deliver plenty of goals. The first twenty minutes of the game will most likely take place in the middle of the park with both teams trying to assert control of the midfield. Ozil will be closely followed by Mascherano, but if the latter pays too much attention to the Bremen playmaker, expect Khedira to regularly push forward, creating imbalances. The Germans will keep close tabs on Messi, but I don’t anticipate any extra-special plan to mark him. It’s reasonable to think that Khedira will be given the task of following the Barcelona man around since he did so effectively for Stuttgart in the Champions League. Joachim Low will probably be more focused on Tevez than any other player, since he’s benefitted the most from the attention paid to Messi during Argentina’s previous games. The difference maker in this game will be Argentina’s inability to deal with Klose, Podolski, and Muller, especially when the Germans attack through the air. Podolski and Muller will stretch out the defense allowing Klose to roam in the box, making life very difficult for his Bundesliga teammate.

Replay, Mr. Blatter?

I know that I’ve been harping on this for a while, but when is FIFA going to realize that goal-line technology is essential to soccer? To be honest, the introduction of technology into the game should not be limited to goal-line technology. FIFA should also allow fourth officials to use video analysis in order to aid the referees, and keep them from making game-changing decisions that only hinder the contest.

This year’s world cup has already been marred by a number of no-goal decisions, two of them victimizing the United States. However, no decision - or no-decision – will prove more controversial than the one that basically sealed England’s fate in South Africa. Frank Lampard’s shot was clearly a goal, and an impressive one at that, and the referee’s failure to recognize it as such completely changed the dynamic of the game. Had the goal counted, England and Germany would have ended the half tied, and while the latter was clearly the superior team, psychologically, the English would have felt like they were in it. As it stood, England had to chase the game, exposing the team at the back – something that Die Mannschaft’s counterattacking prowess took full advantage of.

Apart from disallowing or allowing goals, overzealous referees are also tarnishing the game by pulling their card trigger a little too soon, or for no reason at all. I’m not simply referring to red cards, but yellows as well, as their accumulation leads to a one game suspension. All one has to do is review a few of the games played so far to see at least one case where a player has been hard-done by stringent refereeing. Switzerland’s world cup dreams all but ended when Behrami received a straight red for a seemingly innocuous, and unintentional elbow to a Chilean player. Gourkuff received the same punishment for the same offense, when France was already doing a good enough job of destroying its world cup hopes.

As this world cup marches ahead, there’s no doubt that bad calls will continue to be made, which is completely understandable as referees and lines-men are only human. Still, it is FIFA’s responsibility to overturn bad calls when bad calls are made. And for those of you, who believe that technology will only belittle referees, think of Koman Coulibaly’s fate after he disallowed America’s game-winning goal against Slovenia. So, replay, Mr. Blatter?

Soccer Films: Review of "Goal Dreams"

Set against the backdrops of Ismailia (Egypt), Gaza (Palastine), Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), and Santiago (Chile), Jeffrey Sauders’ and Maya Sambar’s Goal Dreams, documents the Palestinian national team’s attempt to qualify for the 2006 world cup in Germany.

Only recently recognized by FIFA (1998), the team’s existence rests heavily on its ability to gather talent from the (largely unknown) Palestinian diaspora – some players come from as far as Chile, where the domestic soccer league includes the Palestino team – as well as the few domestically based players who spend much of the film seeking to cross the Israeli controlled border into Egypt in order to attend the team’s training camp.

Much of the film centers on the inherent conflict caused by the hasty aggregation of players of Palestinian descent from disparate cultures, as well as the added “leadership” provided by Alfred Riedle, the slightly naïve, yet experienced Austrian coach, whose on-field instructions are often butchered by a Palestinian translator who doesn’t seem to have great command of the English language (a fact that is emphasized by Morad Farid, a New York City based player).

The Palestinian “melting pot” gains new momentum when the Gaza based players are finally able to join the rest of the team fifteen days into training camp. The Gaza players, who are represented by the goalkeeper, Ramzi Saleh, bring with them the inexorable burden of having to deal with the casualties of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is evidenced in what is perhaps one of the film’s most affecting scenes. Faced with frowning players at the beginning of a practice, Riedle attempts to make a joke at their expense, only to realize that they’d recently heard that five of their friends had been killed in an Israeli air raid. Instead of trying to provide some comfort to his players, the Austrian shockingly scolds the players for not informing him of the event beforehand, highlighting the disconnect between the “mercenary” coach, and the lives of his Gaza players.

Goal Dreams finds its climax in Doha (unable to play in Palestine, the team depends on surrogate home fields), where the team is to face the Uzbek national team, in what is the decisive game for Palestinian hope of qualification. Oil-rich Qatar is a serendipitously fitting setting for such a game, as it contrasts the deep divide between one Middle-Eastern country’s incredible wealth, and another’s dilapidated state.

Almost by default, movies that revolve around emotionally charged content of this sort run the risk of self-destructing by appealing too much to sentiment. However, Saunders and Sambar cautiously steer clear of dripping sentimentality by breaking up emotive content with cleverly placed comic relief provided by Riedle and his adjusting players. As such, both filmmakers produce a film that captures not only the trials of running a fledgling national team, but also the desire to establish a Palestinian identity that is so conditioned by external influences.

Drawing Conclusions: Groups Stage 2/3 Complete

Raul Meireles & Tiago celebrate Portugal's first goal (photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

All the second group games have been played; thus, it is time for another installment of “Drawing Conclusions,” this time with addition of the Bigsoccerhead Offside Award ™, which will reward the biggest refereeing blunder of the week (we all know who the this week’s recipient will be).

Best Team: Portugal

In my analysis of Portugal’s world cup chances, I wrote that Portugal’s performances oscillate between brilliant and down-right pathetic. The Portuguese game against the Ivory Coast could well be categorized as pathetic, given the team’s lack of offense. However, the game against North Korea was a stark reminder that when the team clicks, it is capable of beating anyone. Of course, we mustn’t forget that Portugal netted seven goals against world cup minnows North Korea, and not a more reputable team. But then again how many surprising results have the supposed “small fish” of the tournament pulled off so far?

Worst Team: England

Italy could be called the worst team of the week, but at least they showed some semblances of worthy attacks against New Zealand. To be fair, the Azzuri should have won the game. England, on the other hand, has shown no sign of being an effective team anywhere on the field. Against Algeria, the Three Lions were out of ideas, at a certain point relying on aimless crosses that never reached their intended targets. A similar performance against the Slovenians will almost certainly oust the team from the cup. Can you imagine the fallout?

Most Surprising Team: New Zealand

Sure the Italians got unlucky, but the Kiwis deserve a lot of credit for their defensive organization. The only legitimate Italian threats came from shots that were taken from outside the box. And even if the Islanders spent most of the time defending, they did manage some notable offensive forays.

Most Disappointing Team: Slovakia

I didn’t anticipate a very strong run from the Slovakian’s; nevertheless, the Slovakians never looked like they could get anything out of their game against Paraguay. From the very beginning, Slovakia was pegged back by the South Americans. Where did Napoli’s Hamsik go?

Most Surprising Result: France 0 Mexico 2

The fact that Mexico won isn’t what’s surprising. It’s the fact that the French never looked like they could score. Did the French even play with a forward? Oh Yes, Anelka was subbed at the half, and got on the first plane heading to the land of fraternity. Oh wait…

Most Impressive Player: Tiago

When it was reported that Deco would be unable to play against North Korea, the Portuguese took a collective deep breath, and braced for the worst. The Brazilian-born playmaker has been the team’s offensive catalyst since Rui Costa’s retirement, and there have been doubts whether there’s an adequate replacement in the squad. Tiago has all but crushed those doubts. The Atletico Madrid playmaker took Deco’s place and put on a clinic against the North Koreans. Starting with a wonderful assist to Raul Meireles’ goal, Tiago went on to score two of Portugal’s seven goals. Now it would be hard to foresee Tiago spending any more time on the bench.

Most Disappointing Player: Wayne Rooney

So far England’s hope hasn’t rewritten the future (that’s a reference to the Nike commercial for all you half time mutters). Perhaps he’s a victim of his team’s ineptitude, but the striker has yet to find the back of the net, and he doesn’t even look close. Towards the end of the game against Algeria, Rooney was busier sulking than anything else. And once the whitle, his infamous temper took hold, as he berated the English fans for booing.

Bigsoccerhead Knucklehead Moment ™: Kakà’s Second Yellow

Not one pundit believes that Kakà should have been sent off for his elbowing of Keita. I’ll be the contrarian. While Keita made a meal of the situation, the elbowing was intentional. He didn’t hit him in the face, but he hit him nonetheless. I can’t blame the Brazilian for wanting to hurt the Ivorian, as the latter was determined to injure one of the Brazilians, yet Kakà should have been less rash, especially for such a devoutly pious man.

Bigsoccerhead Offside Award ™: Koman Coulibaly’s Call Against the USA

Perhaps Coulibaly shouldn’t get as much of the blame as Mr. Blatter, FIFA’s president. After all, it is the latter who refuses to use instant replay to validate, or invalidate goals. And it is Blatter who will roast the African for his blunder. Mr. Coulibaly’s biggest mistake, apart from making the terrible call, was to deny having made a bad call at all. Still, this is on the FIFA president, who believes that video replay will take away from the passion that makes the game so great. Mr. Blatter better hope a similar mistake doesn’t occur with a bigger team than the USA – or in the final, for that matter – because if it does, passion may result in the torching and pillaging of a South African town.

Soccer Films: Goal Dreams by Jeffrey Saunders

Goal Dreams by filmmaker Jeffrey Saunders is screening next week during World Cup events at Play Beautiful NYC, an amazing venue at 201 Mulberry. playbeautifulnyc

Synopsys:

Goal Dreams is the story of a team like no other. The feature film follows the Palestinian national soccer team as it attempts to qualify for the World Cup. The team must overcome obstacles of physical, emotional, cultural and geographical nature just to exist. Watch as they learn to forge a common bond and a 'nation' learns the hope and tragedy that lay within dreams. (goaldreams)

Q/A after with Jeffrey Saunders and former Palestinian national team player Morad Fareed.

Tuesday, June 22nd, 7pm
Play Beautiful
201 Mulberrry st, NYC

free tickets

England, France & Italy: Impotent Powerhouses

While there were questions about their world cup readiness, only a few doubted that England, France, and Italy would qualify from their respective groups comfortably. As it stands, though, all three world cup regulars are facing tough games ahead of them, since only wins guarantee their progression to the next round (even though France needs a favorable result in the other group A game). Only making this task more difficult is the fact that all three teams are facing turmoil outside the lines. Achieving the desired result in this world cup is proving hard enough, so will the squabbles that were once reserved for the Dutch dictate a premature end to these traditional world cup powers?

England

On the Pitch

There were a number of difficulties facing the England team long before the start of the world cup. For one thing, there were questions about Rooney’s potential partner up-front. So far, Heskey has gotten the nod in both games, but apart from claiming an assist in Gerrard’s goal against the US, the Villa striker has been rather innocuous. The problem is that England doesn’t really have any other reliable options. While Crouch has an enviable scoring record for his country, he spends most of the game wandering aimlessly, and Defoe has never been able to replicate his club form when playing for his nation. Another problem facing the English is their lack of width. This isn’t really a surprise given the fact that Gerrard is back playing on the left side of midfield, now that Barry is fit. For all his talent, the England captain has never been able to play to his ability as a winger. England’s injuries have also created problems at the back. The three lions suffered a huge blow losing Rio Ferdinand, and King’s (predicted) physical ailments are only adding to England’s already shaky defense.

Off the Pitch

When he took over as England manager, Capello was regarded as a savior. His austere manner was perceived as the remedy to the brashness that pervaded the team, and subordinated the necessary “team first” attitude. That may have been the case had England started the world cup on the right foot, but unfortunately that isn’t the case, and as a result players are seeking a different, softer, and more personable side to Cappelo - one, which the Italian doesn’t seem to have. There had been warning signs of Capello’s inability to be simpatico. When the whole Terry – Bridge saga erupted, the Italian left the cleaning duties to his second in command, and according to reports, never even approached the participating players about the regrettable event. Now, as self-doubt, and ill feeling diffuse through the England camp, there are reports that Capello doesn’t even acknowledge the players outside of practice, apparently walking by them without even uttering an hello. Additionally, there is a lot of unrest surrounding his line-up policy (Capello will only announce his starting eleven two hours before kick-off). The players have already aired out their grievances in a team meeting, but with the likes of Terry publicly calling for line-up changes, the Three Lions could find taking the thorn out of their foot a little hard.

France

On the Pitch

Zinedine Zidane has declared that the French play like isolated individuals who lack direction, and more importantly, have a coach who is incapable of giving them any. Fellow world cup winner, and now New Yorker, Yuri Djorkaeff, reportedly refuses to support the team out of embarrassment (rumor has it he recently declined an invitation to watch the game at a Francophile bar for that reason). Given that both men led France to its football zenith, it would be silly to disagree with their assessment of the team. It’s amazing how a team comprised of so many world-class players can do so poorly, especially against inferior opposition. The team’s main problem is its lack of offense. Much maligned Domenech has employed Anelka as an isolated striker, supported by three attacking midfielders. Anelka, however, isn’t a box striker, and he refuses to fill that role, and as a result, players like Ribery don’t have a forward they can play off of effectively. The team also lacks a player who can take control of the game. For all his talent, Ribery is a winger, and wingers are usually the beneficiaries of good midfield play, and not the ones who pull the strings. Bordeaux man, Gourcuff, was supposed to be the team’s Zizou this year, but apparently some players on the team requested Domenech bench him.

Off the Pitch

Anelka’s refusal to adapt his game to the team’s strategy is what allegedly led to his argument with Domenech, which consequently landed him on a plane back to France. His dismissal has prompted an all-out mutiny in the French camp, “captained” by Patrice Evra who is far more concerned with the supposed “traitor” who leaked the argument to the media, instead of focusing on reconciling differences, and patching up the ever-growing team fissures. The players’ refusal to practice two days before the team’s final group game is living proof that hostilities will not be overcome.

Italy

On the Pitch

Marchetti looks on in disbelief as the Kiwis strike first (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Like the French, the Italians are lacking a defined strategy. The Italian defense is far weaker than it’s ever been, their midfield looks about as creative as white rice, and their offensive play relies on unconvincing, and inconsistent forwards. You know you’re in trouble when your best defender is a 37 year old who’s coming off a less than stellar season, and is heading for the Middle-Eastern football grave. It’s also abundantly clear that the Azzuri cannot function without Pilro. The Milan playmaker dictates the Italian game, and is the link between Italy’s infamous defensive midfield and the attack. If Pilro’s calf does not improve quickly, there is little chance the Italians will move beyond the next round.

Bigsoccerhead Makes NY Daily News

courtesy of Bill Bramhall
New York Daily News

Letter to Michael Davies of ESPN Soccernet

In response to Mr. Davies' article:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/blog?entryID=5294701&name=offtheball&cc=5901&ver=us

Mr. Davies,

Your criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo is completely unwarranted. one can accuse Ronaldo of going down easily, and there is no doubt that his whining is irritating and sometimes overshadows his talent, but calling him a cheater is unjustifiable, unprofessional, and it certainly doesn't excuse his yellow card. Ronaldo, like Messi, is a constant victim of reckless defending, and to criticize him instead of the Ivorian defender who mauled him, reflects your inability to remain unbiased when reporting about the game, as well as your soccer cluelessness.

sincerely

bigsoccerhead

Response by a reader to my comments, and a link to a very good article about Ronaldo's diving courtesy of Lucas Shanks

In total agreement with this. If you're gonna criticize Ronaldo for diving and whining, that's fine, but you better also criticize the dozens of other players who do it just as much or more. The way most people talk (like the announcer in the game) you'd think he's the one and only player in the entire world who has ever taken a dive or whined about not getting a call. And his yellow card was an absolutely terrible call, one of the worst of the Cup so far.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010/06/16/world-cup-cristiano-ronaldo-is-a-cynic-but-not-a-nefarious-villain/

Drawing Conclusions: Groups' First Games

Now that all the first games of the group stages have been played, it’s time to reflect on the best, worst, most surprising, most disappointing, and most purely knuckle-headed moments we’ve had the privilege to see. Oh yes! I almost forgot: what about all those goals we were supposed to see thanks to the world’s most hated ball?

Best Team: Germany

In a tournament marked by tentative play, Germany was the only team that played fluidly, and used the width of the field effectively. After overcoming a couple of nervy hiccups in the first few minutes of the game, the Germans settled down and imposed their will on the Australians who, even with Cahill on the field, never looked like they had a chance.

Worst Team: Greece

Putting aside their dismal word cup record, the Greeks were expected to compete in their group; however, Greece’s embarrassing display against South Korea seems to suggest that there will be little chance of knockout-stage football for the former European cup winners. Seldom did the Hellenes threaten the Koreans; actually, they threatened themselves with their shoddy passing.

Most Surprising Team: South Korea

Everyone knows that the Korans aren’t pushovers, but their performance against the Greeks was a warning to their future opponents. The Koreans looked dominant and relaxed in the midfield, mixing up their passing, and posing a constant threat to the Greek defense.

Most Disappointing Team: Serbia

Much was expected from the potential dark horses, however, similarly to 2006, the eastern Europeans were a huge disappointment, getting outplayed and outfought by a depleted Ghana team. The Serbs could never assert their game, and rarely strung more than a few passes in a row.

Most Surprising Result: Switzerland 1 Spain 0

Who saw this coming? All of a sudden Portugal and the Ivory Coast feel a lot better about second place.

Most Impressive Player: Mezut Oezil

A classy display against Australia has once again put the Werder Bremen midfielder on the radar screen. Oezil’s classy feint opened up the Australian defense for the first goal and he assisted Cacau on the fourth after he once again carved up the Aussies with an insightful run down the left. Oezil’s trickery is a perfect addition to a team that is known for its boring, mechanical, yet effective, style of play.

Most Disappointing Player: Milos Krasic

Krasic definitely didn’t live up to the hype. Seemingly being chased by every major club in Europe, the Serb was supposed to dazzle the world with his speed and ingenuity. Unfortunately, Krasic never broke out of his lull and drifted insignificantly throughout most of the game. On the one occasion he could have scored, Krasic shot directly at the Ghanaian goalkeeper, forcing nothing more than a routine save.

Bigsoccerhead Knuckle-head Moment: Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s Handball

In a tournament where there have been a few knuckle-head moments (think England’s Robert Green and Algeria’s Chaouchi), Kuzmanovic’s handball against Ghana reigns supreme. Why the Serb decided to lift both his hands as he tried to head the ball is anyone’s guess, but no one will doubt whom Serbians will be pointing fingers at if the country fails to qualify for the next round.

Preview: Serbia vs. Ghana

While Ghana is certainly not the same team without Michael Essien, the African nation is still favored to clinch the second place in group D behind Germany. The Serbs are potential dark horses that have the quality to beat any given team. If there is to be any hope of progressing to the round of 16, neither team can afford to lose the game, and a draw means that the Africans and the Eastern Europeans must get points out of their respective games against Germany.

The Ghanaians will have to rely heavily on the midfield work of Sulley Muntari and Stephan Appiah if they’re to get a good result tomorrow in Pretoria. Their main concern will be to soak up Serbia’s pressure by closing space as they did in the first half of their friendly against Holland a fortnight ago, and then to release the speedy Matthew Amoah. If Ghana decides to take the game to the Serbs, it could leave itself open to the attacks of Serbia’s speedy wingers.

Much more of a possession team, Serbia will have to set the game’s tempo and funnel much of its offense through the wings. Krasic will be a key player, and he should be helped by Chelsea’s Ivanovic who likes to aid the attack. In fact, given Ghana’s organization, the Serbians will have to push their wing defenders forward to create imbalances. Zigic should enjoy a lot of service in the box, and he has the physique to handle Ghana’s bulky defenders.

If Serbia scores early, the Ghanaians will have to discard their defensive tactics in order to look for a goal. As evidenced against Holland, this is when they’re the most vulnerable as they’re slow to get back. The Serbs know that Ghana will sit back and wait for the right time to counter-attack, thus they must stick to their game plan and not get frustrated with a lack of early production. If the Europeans try to force the game, the Ghanaians could prevail by preying on silly mistakes. Expect Serbia to win this game, though, a little more easily than predicted. The team is more experienced, well organized, and hungry to show the world that it can compete with anyone.

Preview: USA vs. England

The US’ game against its former colonizers has been touted as one of the more important games of the group stages. For the Americans, nothing would be sweeter than beating a team that many believe has an inflated view of itself. Nevertheless, team USA is allowed to slip up in this game. It’s Slovenia and Algeria that the Yanks have to beat if they wish to progress to the knockout stages. On the other hand, the English have to live up to the hype about being a potential world champion. If the English don’t perform well, the pressure will mount, and there will be a serious depletion of confidence that could prove insurmountable.

In order for the Americans to win, they will have to deviate from their usual strategy. The US team likes to sit back and hit on the counter, relying on the speed of Donavan and Co. This could be a problematic game plan against the Three Lions. The English have shown that if given too much time to move the ball, they can cause a lot of problems with their flank play, and given Rooney’s newly acquired heading ability, the last thing the Americans want is crosses raining in. The way to beat the English is to try and take the ball away from them. England’s rhythm starts to suffer if they don’t have consistent possession. Additionally, the Americans need to take advantage of Barry’s absence. Barry usually sits back and allows Lampard to attack freely. His injury will probably force Capello to employ Gerrard in the middle with the Chelsea man. This pairing has not always been successful, since both players enjoy pushing forward regularly and tend to forget their defensive duties.

England needs to take advantage of its wing play to cause the US real problems. While Jonathan Spector and Carlos Bocanegra are sound defenders, they lack pace to keep up with Joe Cole, Wright-Phillips, and Aaron Lennon. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages the English have is the fact that Brian Ching will be watching the game on his television in Texas. England has physical centre-backs who will make it very difficult for Altidore to hold the ball up for his midfield support. Altidore is far more comfortable running at the defense from the wings, and Ching’s absence will mean that the US doesn’t have someone who plays in the box.

If the US staves off England’s initial attacks, there is a chance it could pull off an upset, as the English can get easily frustrated, which leads them to abandon their game plan. If the English score early, expect the Yanks to push forward more often, leaving them exposed at the back, which will enable Rooney to cause some serious damage. A one goal tie seems a very realistic score-line, but the game could also end with the English running away with it by three goals to none.

Contenders or Pretenders: Brazil (no) Joga Bonito

The most interesting assessment of Brazil’s chances in the world cup was uttered by ESPN’s Tommy Smyth, who claimed that Brazil would fail to advance out of the group stage, but then quickly added the disclaimer: “but if Brazil do manage to go through, they may win it.” Mr. Smyth’s analysis is either embarrassingly inconsistent, or is just a symptom of Brazil’s unpredictable play.

There are more questions about this year’s squad than there have been about Canarinha teams in the past. This has actually been the norm since Dunga took over in July of 2006, only a few weeks after France ousted the team in that year’s world cup quarterfinals. Dunga has been a constant victim of scathing attacks from the media, as well as the general public for his strict adherence to strategy, his player selection, and the team’s deviation from the type of soccer that makes Brazil…well, Brazil. For the most part, the coach has stuck to his philosophy, and he definitely has not shied away from making tough decisions about players – just ask Ronaldinho. And for all the flak the former world cup winner has received, he already has one Copa America, and one Confederations Cup under his belt.

In the end, no matter how Brazil performs in South Africa, Dunga will continue to have his detractors; the big question is whether or not he’ll have a second trophy in his cabinet to help muffle their whingeing.

Why They’re Contenders

Two defensive midfielders

The Brazilians have always been known for their offense, but it may be their defense that sticks out during this tournament. Dunga has made sure that his midfield is well balanced and relies heavily on a defensive midfield duo that allows attacking midfielders more tactical freedom to create offense. The likely starters will be Filipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, both of whom are strong tacklers and have inexhaustible lungs. Gilberto is one of the more experienced players on the team, which is very important considering Melo’s occasional rashness. If Brazil is to be beaten, opponents need to move the ball fast enough through the midfield, and have to attack in numbers. Both defensive midfielders only look shaky when they’re outnumbered and outpaced, as neither of them is particularly fast. Chances are most of Brazil’s goals will be a result of attacks that originate at Melo’s and Gilberto’s feet after they’ve wrecked someone else’s offensive play.

Attacking wing defenders

All of today’s successful teams, whether club or national, have wing defenders who can support an attack and cause defensive imbalances to opponents. It’s safe to say that whatever team wins the world cup will have had consistent offensive contribution from its wing defenders. In this regard Brazil is probably ahead of every other team in the tournament. In Maicon, the seleção has arguably the best right-sided defender in the world. Where many wing defenders are categorized as being either good defenders, or good attackers, Maicon is both. With his speed, he can mark any winger, his size allows him to pitch in the middle to help the centre-backs, and his fitness and offensive disposition enable him to torment defenses. On the left side, Michel Bastos supports the attack effectively with his speed and powerful shooting. The Lyon player’s defense may not be the best, but with Brazil constantly looking to score, there may be very little for Bastos to do at the back.

Why They’re Pretenders

Kaka’s fitness

This season was not Kaka’s best. The change of league, and his groin problem prevented Brazil’s number ten from performing consistently, and as a result his confidence and playing time took a knock. In order for Brazil to perform at its best level, Kaka must be pulling the strings, and controlling the pace of the game. Two-thirds of the game flows through his feet, and if he’s not at his best, there is no one on the bench who can replace him, whether in quality, or style of play.

Bickering

All of Nike’s Brazilian soccer commercials would have you believe that the Brazilian camp is a harmonious one. Apparently that is not the case. Quite a few players have voiced their displeasure with Dunga’s emphasis on tactical discipline, while others have had some disagreements during practice. Since arriving in South Africa, Kaka has had it out with Filipe Melo for his aggressive tackles, and Julio Sampaio and Dani Alves have also had their quarrels. Some are attributing the arising conflicts to nervousness within the camp, which may derive from the pressure the team is feeling from the fans back across the Atlantic.

The Verdict: Contenders

All things considered, Tommy Smyth may be correct in his assessment of Brazil’s chances. The team will be tested by Portugal and the Ivory Coast, and could potentially lose to either one of them. However, if the Brazilians get through the group, they will have surpassed two very good opponents, and will likely not face many teams that are better on their way to the final. Kaka claims he is feeling close to his best, so he should be ready to guide the team. As for the discord within the squad: We’ve all seen what player conflicts have done to the Dutch teams in the past. If Dunga doesn’t cool hot tempers, Brazil could face the same problems on the field that have prevented the Oranje from doing better than they have. Still, the team should cruise through the group stage and then make its way to the final before lifting a record sixth world cup.